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Books > Fiction > Genre fiction > War fiction > Second World War fiction
The brilliant suspense thriller from the author of THE EAGLE HAS
LANDED, set in the wartime battlegrounds of the Mediterranean. In
the historic summer offensive of 1943, The Allies stand ready to
invade Sicily. The cost will be high in lives and time, unless the
Sicilians themselves can be persuaded to rise against their Nazi
opressors. Only the Mafia can command an uprising A brilliant
suspense thriller from the wartime battlegrounds of the
Mediterranean. In the historic summer offensive of 1943, the Allies
stand ready to invade Sicily. The cost will be high in lives and
time, unless the Sicilians themselves can be persuaded to rise
against their Nazi oppressors. Only the Mafia can command an
uprising - and the Godfather refuses to fight... Desperate action
is needed to dent Hitler's evil pride. Someone who understands
Mafia ways, and knows how to earn the loyalty the Allies crave.
Someone who isn't afraid of killing his own...
"In Small Acts of Defiance, Michelle Wright paints a beautifully
intimate portrait that celebrates the courage and resilience of the
human spirit."- Jane Harper, author of The Survivors A stunning
debut WWII novel from award-winning short story writer Michelle
Wright, about the small but courageous acts a young woman performs
against the growing anti-Jewish measures in Nazi-occupied Paris.
"Doing nothing is still a choice. A choice to stand aside and let
it happen." January 1940: After a devastating tragedy, young
Australian woman Lucie and her mother Yvonne are forced to leave
home and flee to France. There they seek help from the only family
they have left, Lucie's uncle, Gerard. As the Second World War
engulfs Europe, the two women find themselves trapped in
German-occupied Paris, sharing a cramped apartment with the
authoritarian Gerard and his extremist views. Drawing upon her
artistic talents, Lucie risks her own safety to engage in small
acts of defiance against the occupying Nazi forces and the
collaborationist French regime - illustrating pro-resistance tracts
and forging identity cards. Faced with the escalating brutality of
anti-Jewish measures, and the indifference of so many of her fellow
Parisians, Lucie must decide how far she will go to protect her
friends and defend the rights of others before it's too late.
'This book's power lies in its depiction of civilians trying to
lead ordinary lives during the horror of war . . . It is shattering
stuff, but Rothmann is tender towards his characters and this book
is as memorable as his last.' The Times, 'Historical Fiction Book
of the Month' As the Second World War enters its final stages,
millions in Germany are forced from their homes by bombing,
compelled to seek shelter in the countryside where there are barely
the resources to feed them. Twelve-year-old Luisa, her mother, and
her older sister Billie have escaped the devastation of the city
for the relative safety of a dairy farm. But even here the power
struggles of the war play out: the family depend on the goodwill of
Luisa's brother-in-law, an SS officer, who in expectation of
payment turns his attention away from his wife and towards Billie.
Luisa immerses herself in books, but even she notices the Allied
bombers flying east above them, the gauntness of the prisoners at
the camp nearby, the disappearance of fresh-faced boys from the
milk shed - hastily shipped off to a war that's already lost.
Living on the farm teaches Luisa about life and death, but it's
man's capacity for violence that provides the ultimate lesson, that
robs her of her innocent ignorance. When, at a birthday
celebration, her worst fears are realized, Luisa collapses under
the weight of the inexplicable. Ralf Rothmann's previous novel, To
Die in Spring, described the horror of war and the damage done on
the battlefield. The God of that Summer tells the devastating story
of civilians caught up in the chaos of defeat, of events that might
lead a twelve-year-old child to justifiably say: 'I have
experienced everything.'
"Eyes Turned Skyward is a powerful examination of the
cost-emotional, familial, generational-when women are denied their
right to soar... Alena Dillon's poetic prose and complex characters
will linger long after the last page is turned!" - Kate Quinn, New
York Times bestselling author From the author of Mercy House and
The Happiest Girl in the World comes a brilliant, dual timeline
novel about a daughter discovering her mother's past as a female
pilot during World War II and the consequences of women's
contributions remaining unrecognized. Kathy Begley is an empty
nester, the primary caretaker of her ailing mother, and the
emotional support for her laid-off husband. She's also returning to
the office after two decades to work under a borderline
inappropriate boss. Then a Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony
invitation arrives, and she uncovers an unfathomable family secret:
her mother, Peggy Mayfield, wasn't just a tempestuous wife and
mother. She was a Women Airforce Service Pilot. Peggy jumped at the
opportunity to become a WASP, the first American females to fly
military aircraft. She wore men's uniforms, sweated, studied,
trained, and soared. She also danced, drank, played poker, and fell
in love with adventure, new friends, and her commanding officer.
Once a spunky flyer, Peggy is now filled with regret as she
confronts the end of her life, but Kathy is determined to make her
last months count by securing Peggy long overdue recognition,
appreciating her anew, and forgiving her before it's too late. Eyes
Turned Skyward is an unforgettable novel about unheralded female
heroism, the transformation of misogyny, inheritance, and
ultimately, reconciliation.
Some battles will be fought on the Homefront...The war has had a
devastating effect on the Sweet Family with young Charlie Sweet,
lost at sea, presumed dead and bombs falling on nearby Bristol.
Still there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon in the form of Mary
Sweet's upcoming wedding to her Canadian beau. But even that has
failed to rouse their father from his grief. But in London a baby
has been found in a bombed out house, sheltered in the arms of his
dead mother. A child to make life worth living again... Discover
the gripping, heartfelt second instalment in Lizzie Lane's
bestselling Sweet Sisters trilogy. Praise for Lizzie Lane: 'A
gripping saga and a storyline that will keep you hooked' Rosie
Goodwin 'The Tobacco Girls is another heartwarming tale of love and
friendship and a must-read for all saga fans.' Jean Fullerton
'Lizzie Lane opens the door to a past of factory girls, redolent
with life-affirming friendship, drama, and choices that are as
relevant today as they were then.' Catrin Collier 'If you want an
exciting, authentic historical saga then look no further than
Lizzie Lane.' Fenella J Miller
"A beguiling tale of espionage." -- Pam Jenoff, author of The
Orphans Tale and The Lost Girls of Paris A twisting, sophisticated
World War II novel following a spy who goes undercover as a part of
MI5-in chasing the secrets of others, how much will she lose of
herself? Evelyn Varley has always been ambitious and clever. As a
girl, she earned a scholarship to a prestigious academy well above
her parents' means, gaining her a best friend from one of England's
wealthiest families. In 1939, with an Oxford degree in hand and war
looming, Evelyn finds herself recruited into an elite MI5
counterintelligence unit. A ruthless secret society seeks an
alliance with Germany and, posing as a Nazi sympathizer, Evelyn
must build a case to expose their treachery. But as she is drawn
deeper into layers of duplicity-perhaps of her own making-some of
those closest to her become embroiled in her investigation. With
Evelyn's loyalties placed under extraordinary pressure, she'll face
an impossible choice: save her country or the people who love her.
Her decision echoes for years after the war, impacting everyone who
thought they knew the real Evelyn Varley. Beguiling and dark, An
Unlikely Spy is a fascinating story of deception and sacrifice,
based on the history of real people within the British intelligence
community.
Fresh from their series on the American Civil War, bestselling
authors Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen now launch a new
epic adventure by applying their imaginations and knowledge to the
"Date of Infamy"---the attack on Pearl Harbor.
"Pearl Harbor" covers the full spectrum of character and events
of that historic moment, from national leaders and admirals to the
views of ordinary citizens caught in the chaos of war. From the
chambers of the Emperor of Japan to the American White House, from
the decks of aircraft carriers to the playing fields of the
Japanese Naval Academy, this powerful story stretches from the
nightmare slaughter of China in the 1930s to the lonely office of
Commander James Watson, an American cryptographer, who suspects the
impending catastrophic attack. It is a story of intrigue,
double-dealing, the horrific brutality of war, and the desperate
efforts by men of reason on both sides to prevent a titanic
struggle that becomes inevitable.
A compelling, meticulously researched saga, "Pearl Harbor" is
also a novel of valor about those who took party in this
cataclysmic moment in world history. It inaugurates a dramatic new
Pacific War series that begins with the terrifying account of the
day that started it all.
Bristol 1941 Having left her abusive husband for very good reasons,
Mary Anne Randall finds herself judged harshly by her friends and
neighbours, after courageously risking everything for a second
chance at happiness with Michael. With Michael away fighting Mary
Anne is less concerned by her tarnished reputation and focusses on
keeping her beloved children safe. But with the bombs beginning to
fall on Bristol, danger is all too close to home. Will Mary Anne
rise above her tarnished reputation and protect those she loves
from the uncertainty of a world at war? A sequel to A Wartime Wife.
Praise for Lizzie Lane: 'A gripping saga and a storyline that will
keep you hooked' Rosie Goodwin 'The Tobacco Girls is another
heartwarming tale of love and friendship and a must-read for all
saga fans.' Jean Fullerton 'Lizzie Lane opens the door to a past of
factory girls, redolent with life-affirming friendship, drama, and
choices that are as relevant today as they were then.' Catrin
Collier 'If you want an exciting, authentic historical saga then
look no further than Lizzie Lane.' Fenella J Miller
AS HEARD ON BBC RADIO 4s BOOK AT BEDTIME A Sunday Times, Times,
Irish Independent, Spectator and Good Housekeeping Book of the Year
'Sensationally good' Sunday Times 'Remarkably, unusually vivid' The
Times 'Brilliantly evokes wartime love and heartbreak.' Guardian
Two sisters. Four nights. One City. April, 1941. Belfast has
escaped the worst of the war - so far. Following the lives of
sisters Emma and Audrey - one engaged to be married, the other in a
secret relationship with another woman - as they try to survive the
horrors of the Belfast Blitz, These Days is an unforgettable novel
about lives lived under duress, about family, and about how we try
to stay true to ourselves 'Breathtakingly good . A novel of
enormous heart; full of luminous passages of prose.' Observer
'Meticulously researched, perfectly imagined, full of compassion
and emotional truth.' CLARE CHAMBERS
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